Rolls-Royce RB401

RB.401
	Rolls-Royce RB.401 turbofan engine at the Rolls-Royce Heritage Trust, Derby
Type	Turbofan
Manufacturer	Rolls-Royce
First run	21 December 1975

The Rolls-Royce RB.401 was a British two-spool business jet engine which Rolls-Royce started to develop in the mid-1970s as a replacement for the Viper.^[1]^[2] RB.401-06 prototype engines were already being manufactured when a decision to develop the higher thrust RB.401-07 was taken.

Although ground testing of both the -06 and -07 continued into the early 1980s, a lack of funds caused the project to be cancelled.

Design and development

Although the basic configuration of both engines was almost identical, the -07 variant had a larger fan diameter. The -06 version HP compressor was based on the eight-stage version of the RC34B research compressor, unscaled, whereas the -07 was a scaled-up unit. A single stage fan, driven by a two-stage LP turbine, supercharged the HP compressor which was driven by the single stage transonic HP turbine. The combustor was annular and the co-annular exhaust featured a lightweight target type thrust reverser.

Specifications (RB.401-07)

Data from Jane's.^[3]

General characteristics

Type: High-bypass two-spool turbofan
Length: 60.8 in (1,545 mm)
Diameter: 32.4 in (823 mm) (fan casing)
Dry weight: 985 lb (447 kg)

Components

Compressor: Fan:Single-stage axial, HP:8-stage axial, variable inlet guide vanes
Combustors: Annular
Turbine: Two-stage LP, single-stage HP with air-cooled blades
Fuel type: Hydromechanical with provision for electronic monitoring
Oil system: Self-contained (tank, pumps,filters and cooler)

Performance

Maximum thrust: Take-off thrust: 5,540 lbf (24.7 kN)
Overall pressure ratio: 11.5:1 (HP compressor)
Bypass ratio: 4.2:1
Air mass flow: 182 lb/s (82.5 kg)
Thrust-to-weight ratio: 5.6:1

References

Notes

^ Gunston 1989, p.155.
^ Flight, 1979. www.flightglobal.com
^ Taylor 1984, p.852

Bibliography

Gunston, Bill. World Encyclopedia of Aero Engines. Cambridge, England. Patrick Stephens Limited, 1989. ISBN 1-85260-163-9
Taylor, John W.R. Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1984-85., London, Jane's Publishing Company Ltd, 1984. ISBN 0 7106-0801-2.

[1] Gunston 1989, p.155.

[2] Flight, 1979. www.flightglobal.com

[3] Taylor 1984, p.852

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v t e Rolls-Royce Holdings aero engines and aircraft
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Turboprops/Turboshafts	501 (variants)† AE 2100† M250† MTR390‡ RR300 RR500 T56† T406† T800‡ TP400‡
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